Kirkville man gets 10 years in prison for violent purse snatch

Syracuse, NY - A Kirkville man was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison for a violent purse snatching that left the elderly victim with a broken hip.

Robert Sobotka, 23, of 401 Peck Road, Trailer 33, apologized to the victim and her family and said he plans to use his prison time to better himself. Defense lawyer Theodore Stenuf said Sobotka has been fighting a substance abuse addiction for years.

Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi said the addiction was no excuse and the apology did little to alleviate the victim's pain and suffering.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Kasmarek said the 78-year-old woman was getting into a friend's car in the parking lot of the Wegmans on Pond Street about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23 - two days before Thanksgiving - when Sobotka knocked her to the ground, grabbed her purse and fled.

The victim broke her hip and had to have hip replacement surgery, the prosecutor said.

Sobotka was arrested shortly after the incident when Syracuse police stopped the vehicle he was driving at Butternut and Park streets. Authorities said Sobotka had the woman's purse, driver's license, credit card and $190 in cash when he was taken into custody.

Sobotka recently pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery in the incident.

Stenuf said Sobotka had failed out of drug treatment court in the past and had a longstanding drug problem that he apparently had inherited from his mother.

Kasmarek said Sobotka did not have a substantial criminal record but deserved the harsh state prison sentence for intentionally targeting a vulnerable victim and causing her injury. The prosecutor said the victim is recovering well.